Intermittently-operating controlling device



y 1933- o. w. FISHER ET AL 1,905,943

INTERMITT E I NTLY OPERATING CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June 10, 19-30 INVENTORS 0. n al/ace fisher ORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OBIN WALLACE FISHER, RALPH EDWIN WALTER, AN D HARLAN B. WEATHEBSTONE, 01' SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOBS T FISHER FLOUBING KILLS (30., 0] SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION 0] WASHINGTON INTEBKITTENTLY-OEEBATING CONTROLLING DEVICE Application medium: 10,

Our invention relates to an intermittentlyoperating controlling device. In many situations it is highl desirable that at regular intervals certain mechanical actions be automatically performed, such for example, as the operating of an electric switch, the turning of a valve, etc., and it is the object ,of this invention to provide means for perwith such a device that the greatest use of the invention is believed to be, although in its broadest aspect, the invention is adapted for the intermittent operation of other mechanical devices, as hereinabove suggested. In the form here shown the invention has been found of especial value in connection with the operation of a grainsampling device that at regular intervals is projected into a stream of grain passing down a chute or spout and then quickly withdrawn with a sample of the grain.

The above mentioned general objects of our invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawing, the same being a preferred exemplary form of embodiment of our invention, throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention, the front wall or cover of the casing that houses the mechanism being removed;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken at the line 22 of Fig. 1, but with the front wall or cover of the casing in place.

ortion of the lower part of this casing is roken away in this figure;

Fi 3 is a vertical cross-section taken at the hne 3-3 of Fig. 1, the front wall or 1930'. Serial No. 460,277.

covier plate also being in place as in Fig. 2; an

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively, plan vlews of diderent forms of disc-actuatin members adapted to be removably mounted on the shaft of the motor in place of the three-armed form shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the several figures, 1O indicates a casing adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to a wall or other support. The front wall of the casing is desirably provided with a large opening covered by a pane of glass 11 so that the moving arts may be readily observed, and such ront wall portion will ordinarily be in the form of a movable cover plate. In the construction shown, the casing is divided longitudinally by a vertical partition 12 that bears against oppositely located strips 13 and is held in place in any suitable manner, as for example, by blocks 14 bearing against its outer face, which blocks should be readily removable to permit access when required to the motor that is located in the rear one of the two compartments that the casing is divided into by said artition.

The motor referre to is here shown as a synchronous motor but in lieu of such a motor a clock-work type could of course be substituted. The motor is indicated generall by 15 and its shaft from which power is ta en is indicated by 16. As shown in Fig. 2, such shaft projects through the partition 12 and upon such projecting end portion is secured, as by a set screw 17, a member comprising a short sleeve 18 and one or more arms 19 extending radially therefrom. In Fig. 1 a three-armed device is shown, but it is evident that for it there might be substituted a one-arm device like that of Fig. 4, a two-arm device like that of Fig. 5, or a four-arm device like that of Fig. 6, or indeed a sleeve member with some other number of such arms, the selection being dependent upon the frequency A with which it is desired to intermittently move the disc about to be described and through the movement of that disc cause the operation of some other mechanism such as the switch shown.

ae disccoo The disc referred to is indicated by 20. It is located in the front compartment of v the casing 10 on a horizontal stud 21 on which it rotates, such stud being suitably l connected with the partition 12. As here shown (see Fig. 2) the disc is held at the required distance from the partition and in position to be operatively ed by an arm 19, as hereinafter descri =1 a tubular spacin device 22 on the stu 21 and in order at such disc may not rotate in either direction when not actually engaged :2 one of said arms, there is provi e a ort coiled ring 23, on the projectii outer end of stud 21 which 18 adap to be comp against the disc and thus by the sli ht friction produced between the ,sp an the disc and between the disc an d i e s member 22, accidental rotal0 tion will prevented. The spring is forced against the plate b a nut 24 screwed on the stud and is pre erably held in place by a set nut 25. i It is quite important to thus guard against 85 accidental rotation of the disc as otherwise the predetermined timed movement of the disc might be interfered with and cause a corresponding imperfect o ration of the switch or other piece of mec anism that the rates with.

The disc as here shown is provided on each face and adjacentto its ed with a circular row of spaced-apart P1118, those that project from the inner or rear face 86 being fixed and indicated by 26 and being adapted to be succesively contacted by the arm 19 ifa one-arm striking device such as shown in Fig. 4 is employed, or in succession b the several arms 19 if a multiplearm strizing device such as shown in any one of the other figures is employed.

Each of the pins on the? w or outer face of the disc is indica y 27 and are removable and these are adapted to be successively brou ht in contact, in the construction shown, with a switch arm 28, the free end of which projects into the path of ,movement of such pins 27. The switch shown is of the well-known t comprising a tiltable vessel having a y of mercury therein adapted by its shifting to be moved into and out of contact with the terminals of wires leading into the vessel and thereby .making and breaking'a circuit, as will be understood. The mercury vessel is indicated by 29. It is mounted in a yoke 30 that is adjustably secured by a set screw 31, or otherwise, to a short rock-shaft 32 that is journaled at one end in the partition 12 and at the other end in an arm of a bracket 33 that is secured to the outer face of said partition. The switch arm 28 is adjustably secured b a set screw 34 to a short rod 35 that is a xed to and projects from the rockshaft 32. The extent to which the switch arm 28 projects past the path of movement of the row of pins 27 on the disc obvious] affects the length of time that such arm wi 1 remain in contact with a pin 27 and corresponding affects the time the switch is in c osed position, for, of course, such switch being connected with the same rock-shaft as is the switch lever 28, it is overned in its movements by such rock-she To compel a turning of the switch to break the circuit after the free end of the switch lever has been released from contact with a pin 27 and assume a position to be effective y contacted by the next succeeding pin, we provide a retractile spring 36 that is connected at one end to a short rod 37 fixed to the rock-shaft and at its other end to a projection 38 on the bracket 33.

From the foregoing description of the construction and arran ment of the various 8 arts it is believed t at the operation will understood. Briefly, however, it is as follows: With one of the various forms of disc-actuating members attached to the motor shaft 16, the ins 26 of the disc will be successively struc by the arm or arms 19 and the disc rotated intermittently,the frequency' of such rotation depending, of course, upon the number of arms 19 that are employed. This intermittent rotation of the disc naturally causes a turning of the switch arm 28 in a direction and in a manner to gradually tilt the vessel 29 to cause the mercury therein to flow down and over the terminals of the wires that lead thereinto and thus close the circuit. The length of time that the circuit thus remains closed is determined not only by the frequency of the rotative impulses given to the disc but may be afiected also by the longitudinal adjustment given to the switch arm 28, such ad ustability ermitting, as will be understood, a variability in the time of dwell of the switch arm on each of the pins 27. The

ins 27 are, as before stated, removably afxed to the disc 20 and such construction also affords an additional and important means for attaining the desired variabilit in the time that the circuit remains close Because of the removability of these pins 27 it is obvious that the apparatus will 0 erate with only one such pin in lace on e disc or with any number up to t e whole set of such pinstwelve as here shown-so that practica ly any desired number of operations per hour can be obtained, between five and two hundred and forty per hour, by using the required number of pins, and also by using a driving device with the required lit number of arms 19 for the desired operation.

While the invention is here shown and described in connection with an electric switch device and in its narrower aspect includes as a part of the invention such a switch device, in combination with the other 19- elements described, it is to be understood that such other elements are adapted for use in connection with theintermittent op eration of devices other than switches. Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions and arrangement of the arts of our invention, without departing rom the principle thereof, the above setting forth only'a preferred form of embodiment. We claim:

1. An intermittently operating mechanism comprising in combination, a rotatable disc; a circular row of pins projecting from one face of the disc; motor-driven means having rotating projection means successively contacting said pins thereby rotating the disc intermittently in one direction; frictional means yieldingly resisting rotation of said disc; another circular row of pins on the other face of the disc; a tiltable operatively mounted electric switch means; resilient means urging said switch means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said disc; stop means limiting the movement of the tiltable switch in this direction; and a pivotally adjustable mounted operating lever of said electric switch means projecting into the path of movement of said last named row of pins, whereby said electric switch may be operated and the period of operation determined and varied to a very exact degree.

2. In an intermittently operating mechanism, a rotatable disc; means to rotate said disc; frictional means yieldingly resisting rotation of said disc; a circular row of. pins on a face of the disc; a tiltable operatively mounted electric switch means; resilient means urging said switch means in a direc- 40 tion opposite to the direction of rotation of said disc; stop means limiting the movement of the tiltable switch in this direction; and a pivotally adjustable mounted operating lever of said electric switch means 4 projecting into the path of movement of said row of pins, whereby said electric switch may be operated and the period of operation determined and varied to a very exact de ree. n witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 22d day of May, 1930.

O. WALLACE FISHER. RALPH EDWIN WALTER.

HARLA B. WEATHERSTONE. 

